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Summary
Summary
Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear weren't expecting any company when they went for a walk on Christmas Eve, but that's exactly what they got! Debut author Maria Modugno teams up with award-winning artists Jane and Brooke Dyer to deliver a festive twist on Goldilocks and the Three Bears, with Santa Claus stepping in as the cheerful intruder.
Leaving their pudding to cool on the kitchen table, the unsuspecting bears head outdoors for a crisp evening walk. But when they return, they are shocked at what they find! Their pudding . . . eaten! Their chairs . . . broken! Their cozy beds . . . slept in! And it looks like the culprit is still there! Fast asleep in Baby Bear's bed is someone awfully familiar. A fluffy white beard, a red jacket covered in soot, and two black boots sticking out from under the covers. Could it really be . . . ?
With sparkling prose and splendid watercolor paintings, this delicious holiday treat glows with warmth and humor that will delight readers page after page.
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-In this charming twist on the original tale, Santa Claus replaces Goldilocks as the domestic intruder in the three polar bears' home. While they are out taking a walk, he eats their warm and tasty Christmas pudding, breaks baby bear's chair, and falls asleep in his comfy bed, which was "just right." Young readers will enjoy the familiar refrain of the bears as they exclaim in their different voices, "Somebody has been sitting in my chair!" Upon his discovery, Santa begs secrecy and leaves a present for each of them in return. The warm and homey watercolor illustrations are big and bright enough for group sharing, yet detailed enough for an entertaining lapsit. The bears are dignified yet adorable, and Santa is a traditionally plump little elf. Simple and satisfying, this is sure to be a popular holiday read-aloud.-Madeline J. Bryant, Los Angeles Public Library (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
In a nifty holiday twist on the Goldilocks story, three polar bears prepare for Christ-mas Eve. While waiting for their pudding to cool, the three stroll through the snowy mountain village to see the Christmas lights. Writing with humor and a natural storyteller's cadence, Modugno substitutes the proverbial intruder with Santa himself, who can't resist the puddings on the table, breaks Baby Bear's chair, and then takes a nap. The bears forgive the snoozing (and comparatively diminutive) Santa when he reveals gifts for the whole family. The Dyers incorporate a touch of naturalism into their anthropomorphic bears, and their featherlight backdrops and cozy cottage details help create an endearing restaging of the fairy tale. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
In this Goldilocks variation, Santa arrives at the cottage of three polar bears while they are out taking a walk on Christmas Eve. Theres not much drama, since when Santa is finally discovered (after eating all of Baby Bears Christmas pudding and breaking Baby Bears chair), he is of course a welcome visitor. But the story is well paced, with the folkloric repetition (Somebody has been sleeping in my bed!) spiced up with varied typography. The art is appealing in the extreme, the Scandinavian setting evoked in warm watercolor and gouache paintings that are both cozy and full of motion. martha v. parravano (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Once upon a time, there was a clever Christmas innovation on the classic tale of Papa, Mama and Baby Bear, with Santa Claus standing in for Goldilocks. The bears in this irresistible tale are polar bears, living in a comfortable home with a stone fireplace and Scandinavian Christmas decorations. On Christmas Eve, the three bears go out for a late-night walk while their pudding cools on the table. Santa Claus arrives to deliver their presents, and he follows the Goldilocks pattern of eating the Christmas pudding, breaking Baby Bear's chair and falling asleep in Baby Bear's cozy bed. The text follows the familiar structure of the original story, but when the bears find Santa asleep, he pulls out their gifts instead of running away. In a delightful twist, there's "a great big present for Baby Bear, a middle-size present for Mama Bear, and a wee little present for Papa Bear." A final wordless page shows the bears just starting to open their presents on Christmas morning, but young readers must imagine the package contents for themselves. Charming watercolor illustrations by the mother-and-daughter team bring the polar bears to life and give Santa Claus an amiable, gentle persona. And Santa promises Baby Bear a new chair for next Christmas. Just right. (Picture book. 3-6)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
What a good idea! Retell the story of The Three Bears (only make them polar bears), and have the role of Goldilocks played by Santa Claus. The general trajectory of the story is the same. The bear family finds the Christmas pudding too hot, so they head off to look at holiday lights. Santa is finishing his route and is tempted by the pudding, the comfy-looking chairs, and finally, that enticing bed. When the bears return, they are surprised but pleased to find a jolly old St. Nick snoozing. But in a flurry, Christmas calls. The Dyers do a beautiful job of reframing the tale into holiday fare. Their softer palette works quite well for a holiday usually seen in red and green. And while the bears are charmers, it's chubby, havoc-causing Santa who steals the show.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2010 Booklist
